Wichita eagle., 1887-05-07
LEAVING THE FARMS.
Live Stock Indicator,

LEAVING THE FARMS.
Live Stock Indicator.
Much has already been written about
the exodus of the farmers sons from their
quiet homes to the more exciting but more
dangerous cities, and yet the hegira goes on
the sound advice of many
able writers on agricultural topics. Here
in Kansas City, perhaps, one sees more
young men who have abandoned the pillow
and the feed lot to engage in other pursuits
in the city, and especially in real estate and
kindred traffic. than anywhere else. Young
men who left their fathers farms to en-
gage in mercantile or other business in the
village, have been lured to Kansas City
because of the phenomenal 'craze" in real
estate, and other farmers boys
have left their homes to fill the
places thus vacated. There are
at present in Kansas City over 600 real es
tate firms, while doctors, lawyers, book.
keepers and telegraphers are being turned
out every year by hundreds. What is the
result? A few-verp few-reach the goal
of prosperity and wealth after years of
brain work and toll. while the majority exc
out but poor (thouge apparently respect
able existence.
There is phase of life at the south es-
pecially, says the Savannah News, which
not only gives accession for the earnest
thought, but for serious alarm. When the
war closed, and for number of years at,
ter. the changed condition Of affairs led
MANY young men to believe that the
cities and towns afforded the
best fields for making living. Farms
and farm houses were in ruins,
labor was dlsorganized, and there seemed
to be no profit in tilling the ground. To
very great extent, therefore, yOun. men
sought the centers of population. while
their fathers rented the farms to negroes
Many found employment as clerks in stores,
others entered some one of the leading pro
fessionals. As rule the clerks received
small salaries, and when the busy season
was over their occupation was gone until
the return of fall In the summer months
some went back to the farms anc engaged
in irregular work; but the majority re-
NAMED upon the scene Of their spas
modic career as clerks, and kicking
their shins in idleness. Those
who entered professional life
Jared no better than the clerks. A few
made fame and fortune, but BY far the
greater number barely succeeded in keep
ing up the union between body and soul
The example set by these young men was
contagious, because the exodus from the
farms continues, and every year there is a
large increase in the number OF poorly paid
clerks and half starved lawyers and physi-
clans. In recent years the activity In min
Ing. manufacturing and railroad building
has been an additional inducement to young
men to seek the centers of population
This was never 50 apparent as at present.
The dazzling stories of rapidly acquired
fortunes in the pursuits just mentioned
have caused rush of young men to the
cities and towns that Is astonishing. and to
which there seems no end.
Such an abandonment Of the farms has
two unfortunate results, the first being that
the farms suffer by being left untitled,
while on the ether hand the pursuits open
to young men In tho citics are yearly be-
coming more crowded, thus lessening the
opportunities for acquiring position and
competence.
Beyond all that, production OF the neces-
stiles of life is lessened, without CORES
bonding increase In price, because the great
competition In labor In the cities has al
ready brought wages to such q basis that
the loborer or mechanic cannot afford to
pay higher price for food AID raiment,
and the farmer. fading that there is
no profit in his labor. naturally per-
mits his boys to try some other
mode Of making a living,
and instead Of making things better they
grow worse The intense desire for the
"mighty dollar" land. after all, there's no
pocket in q shroud') is responsible for
much of the suffering among the poor Of
the cities today; but who ever heard Of
farmer starving to death! OF course there
are hardshiDs, especially in q new terri
tory, but as q rule farmers are the most
healthy people on earth, and health Is
wealth. even If 1t does not produce an
overplus Of dollars.
Blu. one good sign Of the times is that
more intelligent Class OF me and women
are taking an interest in farms-men
who read the papers and women
who are not ayerse to soiling their hands
in dishwater. ladies by birth and education
though they be. Such people not only en-
iov good health. but are making more
money at less waste of brain power than
persons in any other branch OF business.
The hegira from the farms ought 10 stop.
Young men who re.lsin on them and cul
iya,e them in,elligently and indusiriously
are much more likely 10 gain acompetence
than those who seek wealth il the cities
and towns. Besides, the prosperity Of the
sutirc country depends upon the farming
interests. Don't leave the farm